Gutierrez: Late season form shows Formula 1 potential

Esteban Gutierrez believes that his performances in the second half of the season prove that he deserves to remain in Formula 1 next season.

Gutierrez made his debut for Sauber in 2013 and scored six points - all courtesy of a seventh place finish in the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Mexican, whose future in Formula 1 is uncertain, reckons that he has performed at the expected level since the Singapore Grand Prix.

"The bottom line is that I have big goals in F1 and I want to achieve them," he told The Official F1 website.

"I believe that with my race performances from Singapore onwards I have proved that I have the level to be in Formula One. So I am confident for my future."

Gutierrez nonetheless says he is able to view the wider picture.

"Life is bigger than Formula One. For a driver Formula One is, of course, very important - for me it includes everything that I love: the sport, the technical side, the engineering side, the business and the political side - but at the same time you have your family and you have friends - you have a life and you have to give huge value to all of the things that give you the chance to say: ‘I am not fully dependant on Formula One’.

"I have other things that I value, and you need to find the right balance between your F1 life and the private person that you are. My life would not collapse if F1 did not happen, but once you’re here, you have to go all in!"

Gutierrez added that team-mate Nico Hulkenberg proved to be a good reference for his maiden campaign.

"Of course, it was great to have Nico as a reference for me in my rookie season," he said.

"We get along very well and he is one of the best qualifiers and one of the best drivers out there. The occasions when I was at his level - and sometimes even in front - gave me a lot of confidence. And when I was not up to his level, that put me to work. I appreciated that a lot - being able to develop your skills is one of the most important things if you want to develop into a champion."